Paris station triples in size for Olympics and Brexit
Europe's busiest rail station, the Gare du Nord in Paris, is to triple in size by 2023, a year before the city hosts the Olympics.
It will be able to handle more than 800,000 passengers a day, 100,000 more than today.
The design brings in airport-style separation of arriving and departing travellers. SNCF president Guillaume Pepy said Brexit had been a factor. Its Eurostar terminal will 鈥渆mulate鈥� St Pancras in London and be extended to face 鈥渢he challenges of reinforced border controls due to Brexit鈥� with dedicated platforms walled off from other areas.
However, he said 鈥渢raffic will not slow down but rather will increase by 50% by 2030鈥�. The station will grow from 36,000m2 to 110,000m2 with 50,000m2 for shops and services that will include rooftop cafes, bars and garden, 1km running track, a giant co-working space and a 2,000-seat concert hall.
Built on the site of the present bus terminal, the multi-level glass building will have a new facade on Rue Faubourg Saint-Denis with direct departures access along with Metro and bus station connection.
What is now the Transilien access will be opened up with glass walls and roof, a 300m long and 18m wide central alley to access Eurostar, TGV, Transilien and RER trains.
The 鈧�600million scheme will be run in a joint venture with SNCF and property developer Ceetrus. It will also see public and commercial areas round the station improved.
